Catulle: the poet is fond of soliloquy in the form of self-address, and of speaking of himself in the third person (cf. Catul. 6.1n.); but especially noteworthy in this poem is the change from the second to the third person (v.12) and back again (v. 19).
ineptire: a colloquial word, occurring twice in Terence (Ter. Ad. 934; Ter. Phor. 420), not at all in Plautus nor in any classical writer after Catullus.
[2] perisse perditum: cf. Pl. Trin. 1026 “quin tu quod periit periisse ducis?”
[3] candidi soles: days of good fortune and happiness; cf. Hor. Carm. 4.5.7 “gratior it dies et soles melius nitent;” and the opposite figure in Hor. S. 1.9.72 “huncine solem tam nigrum surrexe mihi !”
[4] cum ventitabas: etc., not of a definite place, as into the house of Allius (cf. Catul. 68.68), but in general, when you were submitting to her rule and guidance.
[5] amata nobis: etc., cf. Catul. 37.12 and Catul. 87.1f. for the same expression of his love for Lesbia, and for similar comparisons of affection, Catul. 3.5n.
[6] ibi tum: temporal, contrasted with v. 9 nunc iam; cf. Pl. Curc. 648 “tum ibi nescio quis me arripit;” Ter. Andr. 634 “ibi tum eorum impudentissuma oratiost” ; Cic. Caec. 10.27 “ibi tum Caecinam postulasse. Ibi” is used alone in the temporal sense in Catul. 63.4, Catul. 63.42, Catul. 63.48, Catul. 63.76; Catul. 66.33.
[6] iocosa: cf. Ov. Trist. 2.354 “vita verecunda est, Musa iocosa mea” .
[9] impotens: if the emendation impotens noli be correct, the adjective must mean ‘weakling,’ the prey to his own passions; different from its meaning in Catul. 4.18 and Catul. 35.12.
[10] nec quae fugit sectare: cf. Theocr. 11.75 “τί τὸν φεύγοντα διώκεις;” which passage Catullus may have had in mind, though in Theocritus the words retain more of their literal meaning.
[11] perfer, obdura: cf. Ov. Trist. 5.11.7 “perfer et obdura” ; Hor. S. 2.5.39 “persta atque obdura” . The asyndeton adds to the tone of rugged determination.
[14] rogaberis: as in v. 13,without the accusative of the thing desired.
[14] nulla: a somewhat colloquial and emphatic use for non; Catul. 17.20; Pl. Asin. 408 “is nullus venit” ; Pl. Mil. Glor. 786 “nam cor non potest quod nulla habet” (i.e. because she has none); Ter. Hec. 79 “si non quaeret, nullus dixeris” ; Cic. Verr. 2.2.43 “hereditas ea, quae nulla debetur.”
[15] scelesta: Catullus fans his anger and waxes more indignantly reproachful, and yet so immediately runs into the details of past happiness that in spite of his vale, puella he almost seems to be wishing to tempt Lesbia back to himself. Observe also from the rhetorical questions that he has yet no notion that Lesbia's coldness to himself is connected with other intrigues.
[15] vae te: though the dative is commonly used in connection with vae (cf. Catul. 64.196n. vae miserae), yet the accusative of exclamation is sometimes found; cf. Pl. Asin. 481 “vae te” ; Sen. Apocol. 4 “vae me” .
[15] tibi manet: i.e. will from now on continue to be yours (cf. Catul. 61.229; Catul. 76.5); while te manet would mean ‘will come upon you in the future’ (cf. Prop. 3.28.58 “mors sua quemque manet” ) .
[17] cuius esse diceris, who will call you his own?
[18] cui labella mordebis: cf. Pl. Ps. 67 “teneris labellis molles morsiunculae” ; Hor. Carm. 1.13.12 “impressit memorem dente labris notam” ; Tib. 1.6.14 “quem facit impresso mutua dente Venus” .
[19] As the verses that contain the history of the past were closed by the refrain in v. 8 which repeated the opening in v. 3, so those that declare the purpose of the future close with the refrain in v. 19 in repetition of the opening in v.11.
[19] destinatus: the word first occurs here in the sense of obstinatus; it gives, as compared with obstinata of the corresponding v. 11, the same slight variety that is secured in vv. 3 and 8 by the change from quondam to vere. A similar effort after variety can be observed in other passages; cf. proponis and promittere in Catul. 109.1ff.
